Hinge-joint for artificial limbs.



No. 676,08l. Patented lune II, I90I. J. F. ROWLEY.

HINGE JOINT FUR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

(Application filed Sept. 29, 1900.

(No Model.)

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JAMES F. ROWVLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HINGE-JOINT FOR ARTIFICIAL LIMBS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,081, dated June 11,1901.

Application filed September 29, 1900. Serial No. 31.478. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. RowLEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IIinge-Joints for Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to kneejoints on artificial legs foruse in cases of amputation below the knee.

The main objects of my invention are to attain a minimum of friction, aswell as strength and stability, in joints of this class,

I5 to facilitate the tightening or loosening of the joint, to preventany unnecessary play or relative movement of the parts, and to provide aconstruction of joint which is substantially noiseless. I accomplishthese objects with the construction illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a hinge-joint constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the members of the hinge, and Fig. 4is an underneath view of the same member. Fig. 5 is a plan of one of themembers of the hinge as shown in Fig. 1 with the other parts of thehinge removed from same. Fig. 6 is an underneath plan of the membershown in Fig. 5 and having one of the apertured ears broken away. Fig. 7is an outside plan of the nut shown at the lower part of Fig. 2, andFig. Sis an inside plan of said nut. Fig. 9 is an outside plan of theplug shown at the upper part of Fig. 2, and Fig. 10 is an inside plan ofsame.

The form of hinge shown in the drawings consists, mainly, of a shank 1,having thereon overlapping apertured ears 3 and 4, the shank 5 havingthe apertured part 6 seated between said ears, the plug 7, nut or plug8, and the balls 9. The ear 3 has the threaded aperture 10 therein forreceiving the threaded base of the plug 7. Said plug has a centralthreaded pin 11. The nut 8 has a central threaded aperture 12, fittingupon the free end of the pin 11. The plug 7 and nut 8 are each providedon their outer surfaces with a pair of recesses or depressions 13,adapted to receive a wrench for turning either said plug or nut. The pin11 passes through the aperture 14 in the part 6. The ball-race 15surrounds the aperture 14 on each side of the part 6. The plug 7 isprovided with a ballrace 16, surrounding the pin 11. The nut S isprovided with a ball-race 17, surrounding the aperture 12. The plug 7has an annular ridge 18, surrounding the ball-race 16 and fitting in anannular groove 19, which surrounds the ball-race on one side of the part6. The opposite side of the part 6 has an annular ridge 20, fitting inthe annular groove 21 in the ear 4. The nut 8 has a head or extendedpart 22, which bears against the outside of the ear 4.

The aperture 14 in the part 6 is made of suitable size to preventcontact of said part with the pin 11. The space between the ears 3 and 4is made of suitable width to prevent contact between said ears and thepart 6 except at the ridge 20. The part 6 also has contact with theridge 18, but is otherwise free from the other parts of the joint exceptthe balls 9. The part 6 has the shoulder 23 for abutting against theshoulder 24 between and at the base of the ears 3 and 4. The aperture 25in the ear 4 is not threaded and permits the free rotation of the nut 8therein until said nut has its head 22 drawn tightly against the outsideof the ear 4.

The operation of my device is as follows: The part 6 is first insertedbetween the ears 3 and 4 in the position shown in Fig. 2. The balls 9will then be dropped into the race 15, and the plug 7 will bescrewed-into the threaded aperture 10. The device will then be turnedwith the other side upward, and balls 9 will be dropped into the race 15on the 0pposite side of the part 6. The nut 8 will then be screwed uponthe pin 11 until its head 22 bears against the outside of the ear 4. Incase the pressure against the balls is greater than is desired to givesuitable relative pivotal movement to the shanks 1 and 5 the plug 7 maybe screwed upwardly in the ear 3. It will be seen that the same resultmay be accomplished by screwing the nut 8 downwardly on the pin 11. Iprefer to have the head 22 of the nut 8 bear tightly against the outsideof the arm 4 and will therefore usually adjust the pressure on the balls9 by turning the plug 7. The object of the ridges 18 and 20 is to makethe bearing of the joint substantially dust-proof. The should er 23abuts against the shoulder 24 when the parts are in the position shownin Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the details of construction of the deviceshown may be altered in various ways without departing from the spiritof my invention. I therefore do not confine myself to such detailsexcept as hereinafter limited in the claims.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. A hinge-joint comprising a member having a shank with a pair ofoverlapping apertured cars, a second member having a shank with anapertured part seated between said cars, a plug seated in the aperturein one of said ears and having a threaded pin extending into theaperture in said second member, a second plug in the aperture in theother car and having a central aperture threaded upon the free end ofsaid pin, means for fixing the position of said plugs in said ears toprevent same from shifting toward and from said second member, and aseries of balls on each face of said second member and bearing againstsaid plugs, substantially as described.

2. A hinge-joint comprising a member having a shank with a pair ofoverlapping apertured cars, a second member having a shank with anapertured part seated between said ears, a plug seated in the aperturein one of said ears and having a threaded pin extending into theaperture in said second member, a second plug in the aperture in theother car and having a central aperture threaded upon the free end ofsaid pin, one of said plugs being threaded into the aperture in itsrespective ear, and the other plug being revoluble in its respective earand having a head hearing against the outside of said ear, and a seriesof balls 011 each face of said second member and bearing against saidplugs, substantially as described.

3. A hinge-joint com prising a member having a shank with a pair ofoverlapping apertured ears, the aperture through one of said ears beingthreaded, a second member having a shank with an apertured part seatedbetween said ears and having a ball-race surrounding its aperture oneach side, a threaded plug seated in said threaded aperture and having acentral threaded pin extending into the aperture in said second member,a second plug having a central aperture threaded upon the free end ofsaid pin, and a series of balls in each of said races bearingrespectively against the inner faces of said plugs, substantially asdescribed.

4. A hinge-joint comprising a member having a shank with a pair ofoverlapping ears, one of said cars having a threaded aperture throughsame and the opposite ear having an unthreaded circular aperture throughsame, a second member having a shank with an apertured part seatedbetween said ears and having a ball-race surrounding its aperture oneach side, a threaded plug seated in said threaded aperture and having acentral threaded pin extending into the aperture in said second member,a second plug revoluble in said unthreaded aperture and having a centralaperture threaded upon the free end of said pin and having a headbearing against the outside of the ear in which said second plug isseated, each of said plugs having a ball-race on its inner face, anannular ridge surrounding each of said races, the part opposed to eachof said ridges having an annular groove for receiving its respectiveridge, and a series of balls in each of said races and adapted toprevent contact of said second member with said threaded pin,substantially as described.

Signed at Chicago this 26th day of September, 1000.

JAMES F. ROVVLEY.

\Vitnesses:

WM. BL. RUMMLER, E. O. Moonn.

